Pan African Medical Journal
Journal / Pan African Medical Journal / Vol. 36 No. 1 (2020) / Articles

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Published:

May 19, 2020

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS; oral candidiasis; CD4 cell; antifungal

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2020)

Section

Articles

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Ngwa Fabrice Ambe

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

Njunda Anna Longdoh

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

Patience Tebid

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

Tanyi Pride Bobga

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

Claude Ngwayu Nkfusai

Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon; Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Service(CBCHS), Yaoundé, Cameroon

Sangwe Bertrand Ngwa

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

Frankline Sanyuy Nsai

Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon; Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Service(CBCHS), Yaoundé, Cameroon

Samuel Nambile Cumber

Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Centre for Health Systems Research & Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Introduction: oral candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patient and it is caused by Candida species. The low absolute CD4+T-lymphocyte count has traditionally been cited as the greatest risk factor for the development of Oral Candidiasis. The aim of this study was to identify Candida species isolated from the oral cavity of HIV/AIDS patients, to determine their in vitro antifungal susceptibility and to investigate the possible risk factors associated with oral candidiasis.

Methods: this was a hospital based cross sectional study that was carried out for a period of 3 months amongst HIV/AIDS patients in Kumba District Hospital, whether on HAART or not. Mouth swabs were collected from 378 participants using sterile cotton wool swabs and 5ml venous blood were collected for determination of CD4 cell. Candida species were isolated and identified. Antifungal sensitivity testing was performed using modified kirby-bauer susceptibility testing technique.

Results: Candida species were present in 42.86% of the samples and Candida albicans was the most prevalent (60.2%) amongst the six Candida isolates identified, followed by Candida glabrata (16.9%), Candida krusei (12.3%), Candida tropicalis (6.4%), Candida parapsilosis (2.3%) and Candida pseudotropicalis(1.8%) .Pregnancy, oral hygiene and antibiotic usage were significantly associated with oral candidiasis in HIV/AIDS patients (P<0.05). Oral candidiasis was mostly frequent in HIV/AIDS patients between 21-40 years. A CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/μl was a significant risk factor for acquiring oral candidiasis in HIV/AIDS patients (P<0.001). Nystatin was the most sensitive drug (83.6%) meanwhile ketonazole was the most resistant drug (29.2%), followed by fluconazole (24.6%) to all oral Candida isolates.

Conclusion: oral Candida colonization occurs more frequently in HIV/AIDS patients and the is a need for the government to implement regular checks for opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS patients, including oral candidiasis in HIV/AIDS patients to monitor disease progression and prevent subsequent complications such as candidemia and diarrhea.

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 1937-8688